Section 5 – tread gently – go green
Contents
Introducing environmental footprints 1
Your church’s footprint
· Assessing the environmental footprint of your church 1
· Church environmental footprint - a quick inspection 2
· Reducing your church’s environmental footprint 3
- Step 1 Gabriel’s Report 3
- Step 2 Gabriel’s Recommendations 3
- Step 3 Get cracking 3
Getting personal - a moral maze 4
What we did - stories from Eco-Congregations 5
· Carlow Church of Ireland parish 5
· Rathfarnham Quaker Meeting, Dublin 5
· Dundrum Methodist Church, Dublin 5
· First Ballymoney Presbyterian Church, Co Antrim 5
· Better be @ Bethesda 6
· All aboard the Ark! 6
· Following St Andrew’s 6
Activities:
· Recycling quiz 7
· Brainstorm and word search 7
· Beliefs and creeds 7
· Eco-bingo icebreaker 8
· Our commitment – a Rainbow Promise 9
· Dramatic sketch 9
Further resources 11
· Eco-Congregation Modules 11
· Book 11
· Web 11
· For Schools 11
A directory of useful organisations 12
Introducing environmental footprints
Creatures from ants to antelopes, ear wigs to elephants all leave footprints behind marking where they have been. For the ants and earwigs the impressions may be fairly light, but antelopes and elephants leave tracks which can be more easily seen. A footprint is not the only mark left on the environment by an animal’s activity. Ants build anthills, earwigs appear unsolicited in apples, antelopes can be prolific grazers and elephants can make leave their mark whether crashing through the undergrowth or appearing on Blue Peter!
Humans, like animals, also leave a mark on the environment. Like animals, they can leave footprints showing where they have been, with those wearing ‘Doc Martens’ leaving a deeper impression than those going barefoot. Humans, like animals, also leave an impression as a consequence of their activities. Actions from switching on a light to littering the street, running a tap to travelling by car, all leave some form of impression on the environment. This is known as our environmental footprint.
The ‘Tread gently – go green’ module is an aid to assessing the environmental footprint of our activities and considering ways in which we can tread more lightly on the earth.
Your Church’s footprint
Introduction
Churches, like any other organisation, leave an environmental footprint. Some parts of their footprint may have a very positive impact on the environment. For example, many people value the beautiful architecture of churches, having a place to gather and worship God and the positive role that churches play in the local community. Other parts of their footprint may be less beneficial.
Assessing the environmental footprint of your church
The following section contains a tongue-in-cheek check-up to assess the environmental footprint of your church.
1. Photocopy the ready-reckoner page and distribute it amongst your group
2. Invite your group to tick the boxes that best match your church’s situation
3. Assess how well your church is doing:
· 3 or more ‘a’s - so the 20th century has passed you by!
· 3 or more ‘b’s - have potential but could try a lot harder!
· 3 or more ‘c’s - you should apply for an Eco-Congregation Award.
4. Explore ways to reduce your church’s environmental footprint using the information in the rest of this module.
Church environmental footprint – a quick inspection
How much energy does your church use on heating?
a) Jesus was born in a barn and it feels as if we worship in one too
b) Our energy bill is through the roof, which is also where much of our heat
goes too!
c) Our church is comfortably warm and we have relatively low heating bills
thanks to thermostatic and timer controls, insulation and careful use
How brightly do your lights burn?
a) The church is lit at a level so that we can just about read the hymnbook but
can’t see the dust
b) The wattage of our lights means that they double up as our heaters,
summer and winter!
c) Our church has low-energy light-bulbs providing good light without costing
the earth
Is your church involved in recycling?
a) The last time recycling was mentioned was when one of the Guild
member’s reminisced about her penny farthing!
b) We had a policy on it once, but we think that it got filed
c) Our church chooses recycled paper products and has a collection point for
material to be recycled
How often do environmental issues get mentioned in your church?
a) We last sang ‘All things bright and beautiful’ about three years ago!
b) It usually gets a mention at harvest time, and the backyard where the
rubbish is dumped was once called our wild patch!
c) Environmental perspectives are regularly considered in worship and by the
Property Committee in their care of our premises
What community environmental initiatives has your church been involved in?
a) Do ‘community’ and ‘environment’ have anything to do with the church?
b) It planted a 1st World War memorial rose garden – but it needs attention!
c) One of our members represents Churches Together on the Local Agenda
21 Committee and our youth group built a path at the local nature reserve
Reducing your church’s environmental footprint
If your church scored 3 or more ‘c’s, give yourselves a pat on the back and get busy sharing your initiatives with neighbouring churches. If your church scored some ‘a’s or ‘b’s, then it’s time to literally put God’s house in order. One way forward is to follow the 3 steps to an environmental heaven.
Step 1 Gabriel’s Report
Having inspections is a way of life. Cars are inspected for their NCT or MOT, schools are inspected by Department of Education inspectors and, when we feel very brave, our teeth are inspected by dentists. Imagine that your church is going to be inspected by a crack team put together by the Angel Gabriel, with St Francis as their special advisor. Identify the key areas/activities in your church’s life and brainstorm the sort of comments that Gabriel’s hit-squad would make about its environmental credentials. Consider using Eco-Congregation Section 1 to conduct a more detailed check-up.
Step 2 Gabriel’s Recommendations
Based on the areas of concern identified in Gabriel’s Report, form a set of key action points. It will be useful to specify what should be done, by whom and when, together with any resources (money/gifts/abilities/time) that are needed. Present both Gabriel’s Report and the consequent recommendations for action to an appropriate church meeting. It may be useful to highlight some responses that are ‘QEC’ (quick, easy and cheap) to prioritise for action.
Step 3 Get cracking
Don’t let Gabriel’s Report join that pile of plans gathering dust at the back of the cupboard of good intentions. Get cracking! Why not start with one or two of the ‘QEC’ recommendations and put them into action? There is nothing like progress and success to give your campaign a boost.
Key tips
· Check that your proposals/*planned activities meet your church’s good practice/safety guidelines
· Consider inviting individuals, groups and organisations both outside and within the church circle to help enact your proposals
· Consider seeking positive publicity – local press like good news stories
Getting personal – a moral maze
The following are some of the daily dilemmas that we face. Tick your responses:
1. You’ve bought a drink in an aluminium can from a newsagent. Once you’ve finished the can do you:
A. Put it in the nearest bin?
B. Take it home for recycling?
C. Drop it in an existing pile of debris in the gutter?
2. You’ve arranged to meet up with some friends at a location about a mile away. To get there do you:
A. Arrange to be picked up by a friend?
B. Pump up your tyres and get on your bike?
C. Drive yourself or get someone to make a special journey to take you?
3. You’ve had enough of your chewing gum. Do you:
A. Stick it to the inside of the nearest bin?
B. Put it in the wrapper and place it in a bin?
C. Stick it underneath your chair or pew!?
4. You’re stocking up on some stationery. Do you:
A. Look for a recycled pad, but choose a regular pad on the basis of price?
B. Choose recycled paper and pay a small supplement because the cost to the environment is more important?
C. Choose a smart and glossy looking pad with a chic picture on the cover?
5. You are sent shopping for the youth club coffee supply. Do you:
A. Choose a fairly traded brand and not say anything?
B. Choose a fairly traded brand and resolve to encourage a debate along the lines: ‘This club believes that people matter more than profit and resolves to buy fairly traded tea and coffee in future’?
C. Choose the smartly marketed top brand, because people like the look and taste?
Assess your answers:
Mostly ‘A’s: You are on the right lines but lack the commitment to put
environmental ideals into action
Mostly ‘B’s You’re a right on ‘green’ – you need to share your commitment
and good practice with others
Mostly ‘C’s So saving the planet isn’t on your agenda yet – why not think
about some of the answer ‘B’s
Discussion and decisions
Caring for God’s creation may involve changing the way in which we live our lives. Reflecting on other parts of your life, are there other ways in which you could adapt your lifestyle to leave a more gentle impression on the Earth? This might involve how you undertake the activity or even changing activities! For example, for any regular journeys that you take to school, college or work is it feasible to walk, cycle or use public transport instead? Share these possibilities with your friends. Have you identified any issues and ways forward?
What we did – stories from Eco-Congregations
Carlow Church of Ireland parish
Carlow parish won the Motivation of the Young section of Cashel & Ossory’s Diocesan Environmental Awards. The parish held some of their confirmation classes outside, identifying trees and animals for a parish project. The class also spent an afternoon visiting a local property where saddleback pigs live in the forest. The young people were introduced to the environmental and historical value of the property. They later presented reports to the parish on their visit and their enthusiasm was such that a visit for other parish members was subsequently arranged.
Rathfarnham Quaker Meeting, Dublin
The teenagers and children of Rathfarnham Quaker Meeting played an active role in planting fruit trees in the grounds of the meeting house, including digging holes for the trees to be planted. They also helped create a herb garden, which benefits all members of the meeting. They baked biscuits and cakes and made Rainforest suncatchers, which they sold to raise funds for Rainforest Concern. On another occasion they held a cake sale in aid of VITA which, for every €100 raised, plants an oak tree in Marley Park, Dublin, and 90 moringa/miracle trees in Ethiopia or Eritrea.
Dundrum Methodist Church, Dublin
The Youth Club at Dundrum Methodist Church took part in a litter pick as part of An Taisce’s National Spring Clean. They have also helped out with a series of car-boot sales held in the church grounds. These are an encouragement to the local community to recycle unused/unwanted goods and live more lightly.
First Ballymoney Presbyterian Church, Co Antrim
First Ballymoney Presbyterian Church joined forces with Ballymoney District Council to get their Eco-Congregation programme off the ground. They appointed their youth worker, Alex Patterson, as their ‘Green Apostle’ to lead the church’s environmental initiatives and be a link person with the Council.
Alex commented:
“Our young people quickly got into the environmental work. They:
· looked at creation issues in their Bible exploration sessions / · adopted a piece of local authority land in town to do a mini ‘Ground Force’ and keep it tidy / · ‘litter picked’ at our annual District day whilst wearing a tee shirt supplied by our Local Authority bearing the slogan: keep it clean, keep it green’!”Alex reflected:
“Following the Eco-Congregation Programme gave our youth programme a renewed sense of purpose. We felt that the church was taking an issue that was important to us seriously and being involved in Eco-Congregation boosted our faith and fellowship.”
Better be @ Bethesda
The young people of Bethesda Methodist Church, Cheltenham, led their church’s environmental work through their enthusiastic approach to a range of issues. They gained signatures for a ‘Cancel the Debt’ petition and presented it at 10 Downing Street, raised money for AIDS orphans in Malawi and bought a piece of rain forest for conservation. They also helped design and then undertake a ‘makeover’ of a courtyard within their church premises that was transformed from an uninviting space to a green oasis with seating and plant holders made from recycled materials.
Mark Boulton – Bethesda Methodist Church
All aboard the Ark!
The Junior Church and Youth Fellowship at St. Andrew’s with Castlegate URC, Nottingham re-enacted the story of Noah bringing events up to date with concerns about climate change, rising sea levels and risks to endangered species. Animal masks were made by the Juniors and toys and pets were also welcomed aboard by Mr and Mrs Noah.
The Ark was launched in the Church Hall, sailed down the River Trent into the North Sea and then around the world picking up survivors from floods and droughts en route, who all had sad tales to tell. Radio and TV kept the mariners informed of perils across the globe. When the rainbow appeared on screen, everyone was able to go ashore and a rainbow covenant was signed in which promises were made about caring for the earth. These were displayed in the Church Hall to start everyone thinking.
It is now planned to repeat the voyage, this time sharing the adventure with young people from the Jewish Lads and Girls Brigade and the Muslim-led Bobber’s Mill Community Centre. It should bring new perspectives on a story that is known to them all.